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Into the world of talent management I go – {the divine journey}

I’ve always known that my career calling is not to be an engineer. But staying here was comfortable. It was familiar. And quite frankly, it was easy. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable, but joy and peace are far better. God expects and directs us to wisely use our time, treasure, and talent. So I cannot avoid asking myself, “God, how am I using the talents you’ve given me?” And the blatant answer was that: I wasn’t. And thus began a long journey of prayer, introspection, networking, courage, and faith.

This past summer I hit a wall of frustration with my current job situation. What was I doing with my life? I knew my engineering job wasn’t the right position for me, but what was? Frustration ensued as friends would ask me, ” what IS it that you want to do then?” and I responded with a blank stare. “I don’t know God, what IS it that you would have me do?” How do I even begin a job search if I don’t know what type of job I was looking for? My frustration led to many nights in tears with my husband, depression, and feeling of hopelessness. I got so frustrated one day I snapped and applied to 20 different jobs just to get out, but nothing. I decided that I would not run away from my current situation, only to end up with a different job to hate, and end up exactly where I was.

You hear the cliché saying so frequently – “just pray about it”. But usually I don’t pray because it doesn’t seem tangible. But I had nowhere else to go, and so I did just that, I prayed (hours of quiet time). I thought about where God has gifted me. I read articles about how to find your calling. I sought counsel from close people. Through these steps of faith, God started to divinely intervene.

One morning, hope peaked over the horizon. My husband sent me an article about discerning your calling {divine timing} and how we should start with thinking about what “people needs” resonate with us first, then assess your gifts, then look at the opportunities available. In my journaling, I explored things that bring me joy and where I feel alive and concluded with two simple words – talent management. “Wow, where did that come from?”; I didn’t know what those words meant and hadn’t thought of such a career before. God pressed me to find out more about this career field by networking. Exactly what I did NOT want to do. I don’t like going out and asking for a job. I don’t like doing informal interviews. I just wanted to sit at my cube, stay in isolation, and apply to jobs behind a computer screen – easy.

That same week, I attended a department meeting to help people hone their career path. Usually I wouldn’t go to these things because well, I really don’t know how it’d benefit me. But, God was intervening and leading me to go to the meeting and at least see what it was about. Well lo and behold, our manager uttered the words talent management {divine appointments}, and this time, my heart moved. The next 5 months was one step of obedience after the next. Reaching out to the director of Talent Management. Reaching out to executives to network. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. What does an engineer know about HR? How was I going to move into a job where I had NO experience? But all along the way, God put people in my path who wanted to help me; I still don’t know why {divine favor}. I remember one time getting invited to an impromptu meeting to go over the department’s career guide. I sat down next to a lady, she introduced herself to me and asked me what role I was playing in this meeting and I explained to her that I just had an interest in talent management and that my manager invited me along so I could learn. I barely spoke to this woman and within 30 seconds, she was already telling me all about the career field and how she worked directly for the director of Talent Management (the man I wanted to work for). God then put two other high level people in my path, and just like with the lady, these two execs for whatever reason found a liking to me, my personality, and my excitement toward talent management. Each of these people sent along a recommendation to the director of talent management without my request or knowledge.

So one glorious day, I was sitting at my desk when the director FINALLY called me. He said, “You know, I don’t usually listen the first time, but when three people I respect tell me the same story, I know it’s time to listen.” We scheduled a meeting for me to meet him. I walked in to the meeting thinking I’d need plead my case so he’d hire me, but God had already done all the work. I didn’t have to convince him of anything, he was ready to hire me (no resume or business case needed)!

Today I am in the process of making the career change into my dream job. My story isn’t anything out of the ordinary. People make career changes all the time. But, 6 months ago I would have NEVER EVER even considered talent management nor did I even know the career field existed. If anything, I was going to pursue a career as a wedding planner, or an event planner, or a business analyst, or ANYTHING else besides talent management.

Through prayer, God literally placed a desire in my heart. Without any doubt, I know this is where I am supposed to be. How incredible it feels to KNOW that I am fulfilling God’s purpose and to not anxious about where I am suppose to be or what I should be doing. This dream is not my desire alone, but His calling on my life right now. And how do I know? Well, scripture says God gives you the desires of your heart {Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.}. If you think through that verse, He gives you those desires because He will literally place those desires in your heart. I never had this desire before. The journey, while long, was effortless. I get to keep my engineering salary (super sweet), stay with my company (no disruptions), and transfer into this new position. Oh, and did I mention that HR has never done something like this before? And, we all know how the government usually responds to things that are new. I’m not qualified for this job; I have zero experience for this job. And yet, here I am, about to get out of engineering and into a dream I’ve been pursuing for the past 7 years.

Am I scared? You bet I am. This career change is so much bigger than me. The theme of 2012 for Jason and I is “faith, change, and peace: in the midst of uncertainty.” This job situation aligns perfectly with where I believe God will take us this year – a testing of our faith. James 1:3-4 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.